Smyrna times., 1887-02-23
For the Smyrna Times.
The Doctor.
BY A MEDICAL STUDENT.


Ihe profession of physician is a most
responsible one. No man or woman
should become II physician who has not
penetrated the Temple of Labor" to
the holiest of holies, who feels not at
each day dawn the Weakening of fresh
inspiration, prompting to self-sacriice :;
perhaps to toll without compensation
and to deeds of mercy oftentimes un-
thankfully received. The doctor, to be
equal to the wants of man, must have
enthusiasm which no obstacles can
chill, and which gives poise to his
Judgment and makes him discrimina-
tive. Often is he involved in impor-
tant condolences. To him come the
strong and the weak, the high-minded
and the taint-hearted, the irresolute in
virtue and the hardened sinner: seek
ing counsel, seeking help. He must
listen to their statements; some exhib-
iting great ignorance, some stamped
with unmistakable folly, some ragged
from crime. He must keep their Sc.
crets. He belongs to the people
among whom he dwells. The delights
of home, the rich enjoyments of the
social circle, the consultations deriyable
from the qualifications of the religious
faculty in public worship are uncertain.
His life IS vicariOus; an Offering for
others. He comes home after labor of
muscle and Of mind, hoping for an hour
of rest, only to hear the door-bell dis
pei his waking dreams Of happy hours
and to announce :" he is wanted" It
will not be the bleak wind whistling
about his ears, that will awaken the
regret that hA had not sought some
other profession it will be the misery
consequent on folly or vice, which per-
chance he must witness. 1t is the
scenes of suffering that physicians be-
hold that sends the iron into the soul
of the humane man.
Noble, however, as is the doctors
mission, its most commanding feature
is not seen III his visitations to the sick.
1t is visible in that calm and sweet
influence which springs from high
principle and a pure life, and which
communicates itself to his fellowmen,
greatly checking their tendencies to
sin.
Skill is good at the bedside of the
sick, but right instruction, enforced by
correct example, is what those not sick
need. To cure the sick, if possible, is
the physicians duty, but it brings not
so much pleasure as to teach ones
neighbor and fellowman the laWs of
health. To show them that everywhere
happiness is the result of obedience to
iaC to make them feel it and erempLity
it. This brings the soul ample reward.
1t clothes him who thus labors with
raiment grateful to the eye of goodness.
1t makes him who thus lives to bear
likeness to the Great Physician" j" Let
the practitioners ask themselves if, as a
rute, they are men, true and virtuous
Nay medical men are poor examples.
They live do,On their principles.
This profession, like all other pro-
fessiOns, is fairly open to criticism and
should be judged impartially. 1t re-
quires no great gift Of analysis to show,
that where there is such inconsistency
between II mans principles and his
life, one of them must be wrong. 1t is
fair to Judge the medical art by the
lives of its eXpounders, or the CxpOund-
ers by the principles of the art. In
this age wide chasms between princi-
pies cherished and conduct exhibited,
are not tolerable to correct minds.
Man is Natures greatest earthly Gre
alton. She fashioned him after n divine
model, and wrapped him in beauty and
glory as in a garment. All honor to
the men whose noble powers of mind
and whose high attainmeuts are en-
gagged in the noble work Of alleviating
human suffering, and of redeeming the
sick and afflicted ones from the cruel
grip of dire disease and the peril of an
untimely death. If they would but
place themselves under Christ's guild
ance and labor rs staunch and faithful
allies and servants of the "Great Ply
sician," how vastly grander, even than
now, would their triumphs be! Such,
me thinks, should be the qualities and
qualifications of medical men. The art
thus Overlayed with the decorations of
bright manhood would testify to the
truths of human brotherhood, and to
the essential dignity of human nature.
Smyrna, DEL, February IS, 1887.